This last week everyone’s eyes were on New York and New York Fashion Week. Numerous experienced and new designers presented their collections for the upcoming summer and spring 2017. I have picked out my favourite shows of this season including my personal highlights of each show. 

Victoria Beckham

The renowned British fashion icon has once again sparked the fashion world with her collection for SS17. Velvet and silk were a noticeable theme and red thread in the collection that stood out by radiating casual elegance. The combination of casual cuts and extravagant fabrics define Beckham’s collection. Especially the bags that practically melt together with the clothes are one of Victoria’s personal highlights. By combining the leisure patterns with protruding boots, a perfect contrast is created. 

Tommy Hilfiger 

Probably the most hyped up show of this year’s NYFW and also the most talked about on social media was probably the Tommy Hilfiger show. The designer’s show can certainly be considered as one of the main events of this season, certainly also due to his collaboration with model Gigi Hadid, who obviously had the honour to open the show and walked alongside other models such as Taylor Hill and Hailey Baldwin. Hilfiger turned a part of New York into his own personalised pier and created a massive social event that is definitely going to be talked about for quite a while. 

This year Tommy Hilfiger went all for the knee highs and over sized sweaters, keeping up the nautical theme. Blue, white and red, the colours one mainly associates with the brand, were omnipresent but loosened up by olive green coats and bombers which I am looking forward to wearing. My personal favourite was a studded leather jacket with TH’s initials that will hopefully soon find its way into my closet. 

Reema Acra

Reema Acra is definitely one of those designers one should keep an eye on. Pure elegance and a lot of floral embroidery defined this season’s collection and feeling like a princess has barely ever been this easy. 

Rebecca Minkoff

Rebecca Minkoff was this year’s definition of elegant street style. Not only did she shut down a whole street of New York for her show, she also did herself justice. Pimping a black outfit with a pop of colour here and there was taken to a whole new level and makes you wanna turn your home town streets into your personal runway. Camel coloured coats and floaty and soft fabrics were a main part of the collection.

Ralph Lauren 

Ralph Lauren is a classic and has been part of the fashion world as long as I can remember. This season’s collection was mixture of bold black and screaming colour, expressed by silky, flowing dresses and embroidered jackets. 

Oscar de la Renta

The legacy of the fashion legend who will forever have a place in my heart has inspired the label to once again create something new and inspiring. Even though the label keeps sticking to his values there is still a breeze of fresh air that is going through the label.

Marchesa

Besides Elie Saab I have always had a soft spot for Marchesa. The label’s dresses are a dream come true every season and it’s always one of the shows I look forward to the most. I have never been disappointed and also this season’s collection has again mesmerized me with beautiful fabric and colour choices.

Marc Jacobs

This year Marc Jacobs revealed his love for dreads as those were the main hair style of the SS17 that almost distracted a little bit from the most important part. With Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss and Gigi and Bella Hadid Jacobs had a squad of the most publicised models of the current fashion business representing his label and the beautiful theatre set up with thousands of light bulbs just added to the uniqueness of this season’s show.

Jonathan Simkhai

A designer I didn’t know before this season’s NYFW but who has totally convinced me of his original work. As a lover of white clothing he totally managed to win me over and I can’t wait to see more of his work. 

Dion Lee

Another label I hadn’t really known a lot about but has a lot of potential. Clean cuts and light colours turn this label into a must have for SS17.

Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang never ceases to surprise me and also this season he managed to make me think about the enormous amount of creativity that man carries around in his head. His collection presents itself as very sporty but still feminine and sexy and radiates New York’s well known street style vibes.

(credits for the pictures and outfits go to the mentioned designers.)

Manchester is proud of its industrial history and walking through the streets you can still catch the vibes of the past radiated by the historic buildings.

As an Austrian, you inevitably grow up surrounded by the most magical landscape that very often is defined by mountains. This is also the reason why Austrians, as soon as they are able to walk for more than an hour without starting to whine about how tired they are, are sent out into the world to be introduced to the adventures you come across when you start exploring aforementioned mountains. 

I have gone on hikes with friends and family since I was a little kid and I have always enjoyed the picturesque sceneries I have continuously confronted with, even though reaching the peak of a mountain is not always without moments where you’re just about to give up and be like “Screw this I’m going back.” More than once I have been rewarded by the most amazing view once we had reached our destination. Hiking takes me back to the basics, makes me realise where I come from and where my roots are, something that is important for me, especially now that I’m so close to moving to the UK. Even though I love the UK and that is where my heart is truly home, a part of me will forever belong to this beautiful country that keeps surprising me even after spending all my life here. I have been thinking about the definition of home for a long time and now that I’m cutting loose and am about to explore the world on my own it has become an even more prominent thought in my mind. 

I am not scared to walk away, not at all, because I have always had the opinion that life’s not meant to be spent at only one place, it would drive me insane knowing that there’s other marvellous places out there that I haven’t seen with my own eyes. It’s important to be rooted, to know where you come from, but you have to find your own place in the world all by yourself. And sometimes these places are far from what you’ve called home for a very long time. I am more than ready to explore our beautiful planet, travel to places I’ve only seen in books so far and I’ll carry my home country in my heart. I find it in my behaviour, my traditions, my mind set. No matter where I end up, it’ll never be gone. You are shaped by where you come from and sometimes it overwhelms me that I was blessed to be born into one of the most beautiful landscapes you can find on this planet.

Yesterday’s trail lead us to a lake located on the border between Austrian and Italy, called Lago Volaia in Italian and Wolayer See in Austrian. I am used to hiking but, admittedly, that’s been one of the hardest trails we’ve ever been on. All together it took us 6 1/2 hours to get to the lake and back and I literally felt like passing out of exhaustion in the car on the ride back. But the views were all worth it. Walking through a landscape of mountain flowers and sheer rocks, passing by groundhogs and other animals, I felt like being taken back in time. The pictures I took with my camera don’t do the beauty justice at all. 

Lately nude and coppery tones have become my favourite go-to in terms of accessories and additional pieces to complete a look, not only in terms of clothing but also in terms of makeup. Nude tones match almost every skin type and hair colour which makes them a must-have in every wardrobe this summer and fall. The light colours add casual, summery vibes to every look but also convey a certain level of elegance. In my case I opted for a combination of black shorts and a soft, flowing white shirt with detailed embroidery and added a coppery clutch and a nude leather jacket to add a bit of glamour to the casual look.

A lot of things have yet again changed in my life. I just finished my penultimate year at uni, preparing myself for the adventure named Manchester which is starting in September. 

For the summer months I started working for one of my country’s biggest newspapers taking the first important steps towards my goal of working as an editor and journalist full time. I’ve worked for the newspaper for two weeks now and already feel like I’ve been a part of the team for years. It’s one of those times in life in which you realise that you’ve found your profession, the one thing that doesn’t only make you happy but is also something you’re genuinely good at. 

To make a good impression at my first huge event I decided to go for a pair of classic striped culottes and a grey bodysuit which is not only extremely comfortable but also radiates an edgy elegance. The laced shoes just add to the vibes the outfit is delivering.

Admittedly, I felt quite anxious before heading to the event at first because I knew I was going to meet people who have been in show business for ages and are insanely experienced and I literally just started taking my first baby steps into this strange world I actually feel really comfortable in.

I feel insanely honoured to already be trusted with managing big articles and huge events like the music show I was sent to today. I also feel so blessed to get the chance to meet and spend time with people like Mark Forster, Thorsteinn Einarsson and Alvaro Soler who have been nothing but kind to me. I find it highly impressive when artists as big as those I have just mentioned are still so down to earth and easy to talk to. They have made it a lot easier for me to feel comfortable with what I’m doing. 

In conclusion, all I can say is that no matter what happens, as long as you do what you love and makes you happy nothing can ever happen to you. There may be ups and downs but as long as you keep focussed and chase your dreams, you will find your way. It’s all about hard work, dedication and a hint of luck.